Hoskins happy to be hunted at Bay CritsSprint specialist Melissa Hoskins is eyeing back-to-back Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic’s when she hits the start line in next week’s season opener.

Sprint specialist Melissa Hoskins is eyeing back-to-back Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic’s when she hits the start line in next week’s season opener.

“What else can you target, you win it one year and you think what else can I do to better it, going back-to-back,” Hoskins said.

“Now I’m the targeted rider it won’t be as easy as previous years, but I hope from the season in Europe, a big road and track season behind me I’ll be strong, but you don’t know until you get out there.”

Hoskins, will be supported by Orica-AIS teammates Loes Gunnewijk, Jessie McLean, Amanda Spratt and Shara Gillow in the three day event which runs from 1-3 January.

Other Orica-AIS riders named individually to compete at the ‘Bay Crits’ include Tiffany Cromwell and Gracie Elvin.

Three-time Bay Crits winner Rochelle Gilmore(Wiggle Honda) still rates as a serious threat according to Hoskins.

“Rochelle Gilmore, I’m sure she will have a good team behind her, I have ridden with her at the Bay Crits before so I’m hoping I know enough about her to try and beat her but she is coming in with some really good form as well and had a pretty big training block.”

“There are a couple of good sprinters, so I’ll have a few girls to watch out for.”

Hoskins, a silver medalist at the 2012 track world championships in Melbourne turned to the road this season with Orica-AIS and had instant success with stage wins at the Tour of Chonming Island.

“I have made the call for the next four years I’m going to balance it, road and track, and do it the best I can.”

“It will no doubt get harder but I will try and balance it and hopefully make the track team for Rio.

“That’s the goal; the road team at this stage is a bit lumpy for a sprinter.”

In a busy 2012, Hoskins delivered on both the track and road, representing Australia at the London Olympics and collecting a second in the team time trial at the road world championships in Limburg, Netherlands.

“All the road and track I do compliments each other, the track is good for my sprint and speed work, the road for my strength on the track.”

“It all works hand in hand, I did the Bay Crits last year and a bit of the national road series and came into the track season feeling strong and credit that as one of the reasons I got selected for London.”

“Once track worlds is finished, I will spend eight months in Europe which I haven’t be able to do in previous years, so this year will be very road based and I’m looking forward to it, really to see what I can do.”

As the push for male and female equality in cycling continues, it received a boost in the right direction as the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic race organisers announced equal prize money for the top riders.

The total prize pool will be worth $30,000 with cash on offer for the first 10 places in the men's field, and top five in the women's. Race organiser John Trevorrow explained that the reduction in applicable placings for the elite women came down to the smaller peloton of 52 compared to 70 for the men.

“It’s a great step, it’s the start of things to come, it won’t change overnight but the women know that, every now and then will kick up a stink, but that’s just sport,” Hoskins said.

“But, now they have started to change it and I may be out of the sport by the time it’s all equal, but it’s a start and it’s really exciting,”

The Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic and Jayco Herald Sun Tour are joining forces for the ‘Mitchelton Summer of Cycling’ which will kick off a packed domestic cycling season in Australia starting on New Year’s Day.

For the second year running the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic will celebrate the New Year with its traditional hotdog criterium on January 1 before moving to Portarlington the following day. The third and final criterium will be raced in Williamstown prior to the prologue of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour.